Rangers win big in Avery season debut
Last Updated: Sunday, October 11, 2009 | 10:38 PM ET
CBC Sports
Sean Avery added another piece to an intriguing New York Rangers team early in the NHL season, setting up the late insurance goal in a 3-0 home win on Sunday over the Anaheim Ducks.
Avery took a big hit behind the Anaheim net at Madison Square Garden to set up Artem Anisimov's first NHL goal with just over five minutes left in the third to make the score 2-0. Avery's pass on the power play went to Vinny Prospal, who quickly fed Anisimov before Ducks goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere could react.
In true Avery fashion, he got up from the hit after the goal and taunted Steve Eminger of the Ducks. The Rangers agitator hadn't played this season after suffering a knee injury in a collision during practice with teammate Ryan Callahan.
Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle wasn't exactly thrilled to see Avery back on the ice.
"Avery has his own agenda out there," said Carlyle. "Some of the things he says to people [on the ice], you can't believe."
Ales Kotalik had put the Rangers up 1-0 earlier in the third on a power play, with Dan Girardi adding an empty-net goal as New York has won four straight.
Steve Valiquette stopped all 18 shots for New York (4-1). The backup to Henrik Lundqvist was making his first appearance of the season and now has four shutouts in 41 career games.
"He is kind of a forgotten man," said Rangers coach John Tortorella. "[But] if we want to get where we want to be, he is going to have to play well for us and he certainly played well for us tonight."
Giguere was outstanding in net, finishing with 35 saves. Anaheim (2-2-1) clearly looked tired after rallying to win in Philadelphia on Saturday and was outshot 15-1 in the first period.
"We didn't execute to our level," said Carlyle. "When your hockey club is standing still making plays, it shows they are a little bit worn down. We played last night in an emotional comeback. It's hard to recapture that."
The Rangers had several more chances to score in the second. Marian Gaborik hit the post and was later denied by a Giguere blocker save.
Brandon Dubinsky sped down the left side but his shot was muffled by the Anaheim netminder.
One of the few Anaheim chances occurred when Rangers defender Marc Staal turned the puck over. Valiquette was forced to make a blocker save on veteran Todd Marchant.
New York hit the post a second time by Giguere in the period, with Kotalik just missing.
It appeared the Ducks goalie might steal a game for his time through a scoreless two periods.
"We knew they had a game yesterday, so we were pressing," said Kotalik. "Some chances hit cross bars. We had been saying to just stay with it, be patient, and things are going to happen for us."
Avery found himself in on Giguere early in the third after picking up a loose puck but Marchant lifted his stick to foil the scoring chance.
At the other end, Bobby Ryan's strong bid went off the shaft of Valiquette's stick. Ryan had another scoring chance stopped by the New York goalie later in the period with Anaheim down 1-0.
The Rangers connected on the first goal with Ryan Whitney in the penalty box. Gaborik put on a deft display of stickhandling before dishing the puck back to teen defenceman Michael Del Zotto at the point.
Del Zotto located Kotalik, whose shot went off Scott Niedermayer's stick and behind Giguere at the 2:14 mark of the third.
"It's a tough play," said Niedermayer. "You try to get in front of shots, but at the same time if you deflect them by the goalie it's no good, either. It's a tough one the way Giggy was playing. It was probably better to just let him deal with it because he played real well."
Gaborik has points in all five games this season for the Rangers after spending his previous eight seasons with the Minnesota Wild. Del Zotto, 19, has points in four consecutive games.
Callahan didn't get a point on the goal but started the play with strong work on the boards.
Defenceman Girardi iced the game with just 1:59 left in the third. It was his 15th career goal and first of the season.
New York returns to action at home on Monday night against the winless Toronto Maple Leafs.
With files from The Associated Press
